If you’ve ever been to a port terminal, you’ve seen the mass quantities of shipping containers used to transport goods all over the world. With the trade imbalance–US importing more than exporting, the containers that aren’t returned to their origin, waste away here in the US. But there are a few creative architects such as Adam Kalkin, Jennifer Siegal, and Peter DeMaria (his home pictured above and below), who are using these containers as the basic structure for custom built homes. The fact is, materials such as steel and wood cost big-time money and perpetually increase in price due to world demand; according to the video, Anna + Sven Pirkl are getting their 3,500 square foot home built at $125 square foot (a pittance for that area’s custom build price that ballparks at +$250 square foot).

The LA Times also wrote an article about what the family is going to do with the home (think: zip line + climbing wall).

DeMaria Design Assocites is creatively sourcing the Pirkl’s project materials. Because they are using folding airplane hangar doors, both doors that usually cost $35,000 each, will cost half that price. For insulation, DeMaria used NASA-developed ceramic coating insulation, which was sprayed on with a coat that is slightly thicker than a credit card. They’re even going to saw the top off a container, put it in the ground, and use that for the basis of their backyard pool!

Great post, and thanks for the recommendation to see Adam last week – maxmsf

http://www.buildinggreentv.com maxmsf

Great post, and thanks for the recommendation to see Adam last week – maxmsf

http://profile.typekey.com/oscarfrias/ o frias

THE CONCEPT OF FREIGHT CONTAINERS WASTING AWAY IS NOT CORRECT. CONTAINERS ARE VERY EXPENSIVE AND ARE RETURNED OR SENT TO OTHER MARKETS SHIPPING IN THEM LOW VALUE CARGO (SCRAP IRON OR PLASTICS TO BE RECYCLED) AT VERY LOW RATES. CONTAINER OWNERS ARE BIG COMPANIES THAT KEEP TRACK OF EACH ONE BY THEIR SERIAL NUMBERS. OLD CONTAINERS ARE DECOMMISSIONED WHEN THEY SHOW SOME DAMAGES THAT MAKE THEM UNFIT FOR SAFE OCEAN FREIGHT, BUT THEY STILL ARE FIT FOR SATIC USE IN BUILDINGS, WAREHOUSES, ETC.

http://www.jetsongreen.com Preston

O –
Thanks for dropping by. I wasn’t clear with my language. By “wasting away,” I meant “not getting put to good use.” But you’re absolutely right. When I visited Hong Kong, I toured the container bay area and they have a sophisticated system to account for each and every one of those containers, even if it has been sitting there for a long time.